When starting my business in 2012 I quickly became aware of the environmental and ethical issues involved in making jewellery. My first step on my ethical sourcing journey was to find a refiners that supplied recycled silver and gold and make the switch away from newly mined metals. I’ve now moved to primarily buying Fairmined silver and gold which you can read more about below.

Finding suppliers of ethical gemstones in 2012 was much harder, but I am pleased to say that over the years, ethical sourcing opportunities for precious gems has increased.

There will sometimes be a small amount of newly mined metals in my jewellery – chain, clasps and other ‘findings’ are not always available in any other form. However I am moving towards making these myself so I only use the absolute minimum of newly mined metals

“Fairmined is an assurance label that certifies gold from empowered responsible artisanal and small-scale mining organizations. It transforms mining into an active force for good, ensuring social development and environmental protection, providing everyone with a source of gold to be proud of”.

By using your consumer power to purchase Fairmined gold and associated precious metals, you are actively supporting responsibly managed community mines, ensuring miners are paid a fair wage and reducing environmental impact. The result? A strong emotional connection between you and the origins of your gold.

Read more on the Fairmined Website.

I’ve always been committed to reducing my footprint on the earth – reduce, reuse, recycle. Mining for gold is environmentally destructive so reusing and recycling is a natural part of this mindset.

Recycled gold and silver will remain part of my offering where for some reason it is not possible for me to use Fairmined and is why you will see both sources of metals used in my work.

Every spec of waste metal in my workshop is collected and recycled either by myself or a specialist refiner. Post-consumer recycling – using your heirloom and unworn jewellery – and remodelling to give it new life is a wonderful way of creating new pieces from inherited jewellery, retaining sentimental value and transforming the gold and gemstones into something new to be worn and loved.

I am also able to work in Fairtrade Gold on request.

I am committed to ethically sourcing the diamonds and precious gems I use.

Although there is still no official organisation for ensuring the provenance of diamonds and gemstones, there are good people out there doing brilliant things. Back in 2014 whilst searching for ethical gems I happily stumbled across an organisation called Nineteen48, who have exceptionally high standards when it comes to supplying beautiful gemstones. Since then it’s been a gradual process, but I now have a number of trusted suppliers with transparent and certified supply chains, allowing me to choose gemstones that are mined in a fair and environmentally-friendly way.

I still have some gemstones of unknown origins from my early days. I will continue to use these up out of respect for the people who mined them but would now not buy anything other than traceable gemstones.

I am also able to source recycled and lab-grown diamonds, synthetic precious gemstones as well as work with your heirloom gems.

In my workshop I use traditional techniques underpinned with modern values. This means that I limit my use of chemicals, only use non-toxic polishing compounds, recycle all waste (of course) and dispose of anything harmful to the environment responsibly.

My studio is supplied by green energy and all my office stationary is recycled. All of my parcel packaging is recycled and recyclable or biodegradeable. I ask that when you receive a parcel from me you reuse, recycle or compost what you can.

And last but not least my jewellery packaging – ring boxes, etc – are either made from recycled card or from beautiful sustainable wood.